May 7, 2021 – The Solar Impulse Foundation, founded by Bertrand Piccard, reports it has vetted more than 1000 profitable cleantech solutions “that have a positive impact on both the environment and the economy… the only such portfolio of verified and labelled technologies available to governments, businesses, and individuals”.

“There are no excuses for inaction; decision-makers can no longer say that tackling climate change is too expensive or destroys jobs,” said Piccard. “We have proof that many solutions exist to make our world sustainable and efficient right now, and that it can be done profitably.”

The 1000+ Solutions are found in a database of technology solutions that can be accessed and searched by geography, industry, financial or environmental impact.

The foundation says it has spent the past three years evaluating and selecting a range of technology innovations designed to combat climate change in a financially profitable way.

The 1000+ Solutions stem from 67 countries, and target challenges in the areas of water, energy, construction, mobility, industry, and agriculture.

The organizations—and solutions involved—all underwent “a rigorous assessment by a team of more than 400 independent industry experts” before obtaining the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label, says the foundation. The solutions also must have demonstrated energy conservation or efficiency, as well as profitability potential, before earning the Solar Impulse label.

And the cost is free. According to the website, under “Why companies apply for the Label?”, the foundation explains:

“Thanks to the continued support of its partners, the Solar Impulse Foundation can fulfil its 1000 Solutions Challenge, fund the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions and offer all services to its members entirely free of charge.”

Among those supporters is Schneider Electric, which has been supporting the project since 2019 via a four-year commitment by the Schneider Electric Foundation.

“Many thanks to the Solar Impulse Foundation and congratulations to Bertrand Piccard,” said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Schneider Electric’s chair and CEO. “We’re inspired by your multiple scientific endeavours, and we’re very proud to work with you in developing solutions that are practical, ready to be implemented […].”

Schneider also supported the initiative by helping to analyze potential candidates for the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label. Over 30 company experts helped to label solutions submitted by companies around the world.

“As countries emerge from the pandemic, many governments find themselves at a critical post-Covid ‘reset’ point. They are assessing and investing in cleantech and clean jobs programs using a variety of stimulus funds,” said Piccard. By providing them with this toolkit, “these leaders can now adopt much more ambitious energy and environmental policies […].”

“Our goal to reach 1000 Solutions has now been attained, with technology from small and large companies from around the globe, but this is not the end of the journey,” added Piccard.

As more organizations apply to the foundation for a label, more technologies will be added to the portfolio.

Bertrand Piccard was a pilot of Solar Impulse 2 (Si2)—a zero-emission electric and solar airplane that completed the first ever round-the-world flight powered only by energy from the sun. He and co-pilot André Borschberg flew a total of 43,041 km in 23 days over a 17-leg journey.

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